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Revision as of 07:08, 24 October 2007 by 124.157.236.30 (talk) (→Design and development)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The O2U Corsair was a biplane scout and observation aircraft. Made by Vought Corporation, the O2U was ordered by the United States Navy in 1927. Powered by 400 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine. It incorporated an all steel tube fuselage structure. Many were seaplanes or amphibians.
Design and development
In 1927, 291 O2Us were produced. The O2U-2, -3 and -4 were ordered in 1928 with minor changes. By 1930 they were being superseded by the O3U which was basically similar to the O2U-4, one of which was fitted with the Grumman float, and were manufactured until 1936. 289 were built. Many of them had cowled engines and some had enclosed cockpits.
The 600-690 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1690-42 Hornet engine was used to power Corsairs designated SU-1 to SU-4. The change in designation reflected their role as scouts. A total of 289 SU designated aircraft were built for the USN.
Export versions included the Corsair V-65F for the Argentine navy, the V-80P for the Peruvian air force, and the V-85G for Germany. China purchased the 42 export versions of O2U-1 from 1929-1933, and 21 export versions of O3U between 1933-1934 and they saw extensive bombing actions. The O2U-1 versions participated in the Central Plains War and in January 28 Incident against the Japanese targets, while the O3U versions first participated in Battle of Pingxingguan to support the Chinese groud forces, and later against the Japanese targets in Shanghai. In 1934 Siam purchased 12 Corsair V93S models (modified O3Us) and built an additional 72 under license. Seventy of Siam's V93S Corsairs participated in the French-Thai War of 1940-41.
Vought would use the Corsair name again for with the F4U fighter in 1938 and the A-7 attack bomber in 1963.
Variants
- O2U
- two prototypes followed by 130 production aircraft with interchangeable wheel/float landing gear. 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-88 Wasp engine
- O2U-2
- increased span and larger rudder
- O2U-3
- 80 built, revised wing rigging, redesigned tail surfaces and Pratt & Whitney R-1340-C engine
- O2U-4
- 42 built, similar to O2U-3 but with equipment changes
- O3U-1
- 87 built, incorporating Grumman amphibious float
- O3U-2
- 29 built, strengthend airframe, Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet engine
- O3U-3
- 76 built, 550 hp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 Wasp engine, redesignated SU-1
- O3U-4
- 65 built, Pratt & Whitney R-1690-42 Hornet engine, redesignated SU-2 (45 built), and SU-3 (20 built) with low pressure tires
- SU-4
- 20 built, new production version of SU-2
- XO3U-5
- test aircraft with Pratt & Whitney R-1535 engine
- XO3U-6
- test aircraft converted from O3U-3 with NACA cowel and enclosed cockpits
- O3U-6
- 32 built, 16 with Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 Wasp and 16 with Pratt & Whitney R-1340-18 Wasp engines
Operators
Argentina
China
Germany
Peru
Thailand 12 Corsair V93S (modified O3U-6) models were purchased by Siam in 1934. An additional 72 V93S Corsairs were manufactured by Siam under license.
United States: 141 Corsairs were still serving with the US Navy and Marines when the US entered World War II
Specifications (SU-4 Corsair)
Data from "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 2002, 1152 pp.
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
Performance
Armament
- 3 .30 cal (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns, one forward firing and two on atrainable mount in rear cockpit
References
- ^ "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
